Collapsible base for inflatable furniture construction

ABSTRACT

A collapsible cradle or platform for retaining an article of furniture above floor level in an inflated condition. The cradle includes a pair of base or leg members disposed parallel to each other and a pair of side support members joined to the base members to lie normal to said base members. Support straps extend between side members. The side members are bent inwardly toward each other in relaxed position for receipt of the lower surface of the uninflated article of furniture. As the article is inflated, the side members are tensed about the article&#39;&#39;s lower surface and squeezed against the article to retain the same on the cradle.

United States Patent 1151 3,635,528

Strum 1 ,llan. i, i7

54] COLLAPSIBLE BASE FOR INFLATABLE 3,499,682 3/1970 Orenstein ..297 45s x FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION [72] Inventor: David H. Strom, Chicago, Ill.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 622,588 5/1949 Great Britain ..297/441 3] g Strum national Associ L 1,186,489 4/1970 Great Britain ..5 34s Chicago, Ill. Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg 970 [22] Filed Mar 31 l Attorney-S1lverman 8L Cass [2]] Appl No.: 24,315

[57] ABSTRACT LS. A ollap ible cradle o platform for retaining an article of fur- 5/348 niture above floor level in an inflated condition. The cradle in- 1 Int Cl. .-A47C l d a pair f ba e or leg members disposed parallel to each A470 7/20 other and a pair of side support members joined to the base [58] Field of Search ..5/348,44l,445; 297/452,456,

members to lie normal to said base members. Support straps extend between side members. The side members are bent inwardly toward each other in relaxed position for receipt of the [56] References cued lower surface of the uninflated article of furniture. As the arti- UNITED STATES PATENTS cle is inflated, the side members are tensed about the article 5 lower surface and squeezed against the article to retain the 2,564,915 8/1951 Nelson ..297/44l X Same on the Cradla 3,286,285 11/1966 Harvey, Jr. ....5/348 3,295 ,590 1/1967 Pearlstine 160/327 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures V l il llllllhwy 0 COLLAPSIBLE BASE FOR INFLATABLE FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to furniture and more particularly relates to a novel platform for supporting an inflatable article of furniture in an inflated condition spaced above a floor.

2. Description of the Prior Art Articles of inflatable furniture have experienced increased popularity because of their attractive appearance, low cost, and versatility of use. Such articles generally are constructed of plastic material with airtight seams so that the article can be merchandised in deflated, compact condition. When the article of furniture is desired to be set up for use by the purchaser, inflation thereof is a simple matter by use of an air hose.

Upon inflation of the article of furniture, the same is used as any other furniture item. For instance, the article of furniture could be in the form of a chair, a hassock, or an ottoman; Most of such articles of furniture however, are of lightweight and have smooth lower surfaces so that unintended movement thereof even while the article is being used by a person sitting thereon is not uncommon. Undesirable sliding of the furniture article is common since these inflated articles of furniture do not sufficiently retard unintended movement thereof while in position in inflated condition.

Further, most such inflated articles of furniture in use today have a low silhouette so that a minimum amount of air is necessary to inflate same, and also for purposes of asthetic ap pearance. This low silhouette makes it extremely difficult for the average person to sit down in and get up from the inflated furniture article. While the article is extremely comfortable for use in a sitting position, the difficulty in pushing ones body up from the chair in order to leave the same has heretofore detracted, in some measure, from the otherwise desirable aspects of such furniture articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is characterized by a multiple piece collapsi ble cradle or platform having two base or leg members disposed parallel to each other and two side support members joined to the base members to lie normal to the said base members. Means are provided to join the side support members to the base members such that the side support members, when in relaxed position, bend inwardly toward each other for receipt of the lower surface of an uninflated article of furniture. Support straps extend between the side support members to prevent the uninflated article of furniture from slipping between the side support members prior to inflation. As the article of furniture is inflated on the cradle, the side support members are tensed about the lower surface of the article and squeeze against the article to a tensed position upon full inflation of the article. The expansive force of the sides of the inflated article against the side support members forces the said side support members away from each other, but the resiliency of the side support members causes the same to press inwardly against opposite lower side surfaces of the inflated article-in a friction fit sufficient to retain thesame on the cradle.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible platform or cradle for inflated articles of furniture which retains and supports the article of furniture above floor level such that sitting down in and getting upfrom the article of furniture is made easier for the user.-

Another object of the invention is to provide such a collapsible base which will prevent unintendedmovement of the article of furniture when the same is in position for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a collapsible base which, when positioned below the furniture article, will retain the same securely to prevent unintended disengage ment from the article of furniture.

The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing disclosure in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is contemplated that minor variations in structural features and arrangements of parts thereof may appear to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully inflated article of furniture in position on the collapsible platform or cradle embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible base of the invention, said base being shown in solid line in untensed position and in phantom outline in the tensed position illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one portion of the frame of the collapsible base of the invention, showing the construction of a joining member thereof.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 but illustrating an alternative article of furniture in position on the collapsible base of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the collapsible base of the invention with a partially inflated article of furniture in position thereon.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view similar to that of FIG. 5 showing the collapsible base of the invention with a fully inflated article of furniture in position thereon.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary plan views of three alternative constructions respectively of the frame position of the collapsible base of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. I there is illustrated an inflatable article of furniture in the form of a chair It) constructed of plastic or vinyl material with airtight seams to prevent escape of air. The chair It) is but one form which the inflatable article of furniture could assume in connection with the invention. A wide variety of such configurations is possible, as, for example, an alternate configuration in the form of a hassock 12 illustrated in FIG. 4. The invention as described hereinafter is adaptable for use with any suitable configuration of inflatable article of furniture; the chair 10 and the hassock 112 are shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration only.

As seen in FIG. 1, the chair 10, which in this view is fully inflated, rests upon the support frame 14. Support frame M includes a pair of similar-ily constructed] base members l6, 18, each of generally C-shaped configuration. Each base member 16, 18' includes an elongate portion 20 and shorter portions 22, 24, each of the shortened portions being formed at an acute angle to the elongate portion 20.

Connected respectively to each base member l6, l8 and disposed thereabove is a side support member 26, 28. Each side support member 26, 28 includes an elongate support bar 30, 32 respectively. Looking at the support bar 32 in FIG. 2, the opposite ends 34, 36 thereof are bent normal to support bar 32 and are positioned so as to lie coincident with the shorter portions 24 of the base members 16, 18. The support bar 30 likewise has shorter opposite ends 38, 40 bent normal thereto so as to lie coincident with-the portions 22 of base members 16, 18.

A connector or joining member 42 is provided to removably connect the shorter leg portions of each of the base members 16, 18 to the respective shorter leg portions of the side support members 26, 28.

In the preferred embodiment, the support frame I4 is constructed of metal tubing as seen in FIGS. 1 through 6. The connector member or sleeve 42 illustrated in each of these figures is of substantially cylindrical configuration with opposite tubular portions 44, 46 and a reduced diameter connecting portion 48 therebetween. The inside diameters of the portions 44, 46 are substantially the same as the outside diameter of the tubular portions of the support frame 14 so that, as seen in FIG. 3, the base members l6, 18 can be joined to the side support members 26, 28 by slipping the short legs thereof into the respective portions 44, 46 of the appropriate joining member. Thus, short portion 24 of base member 16 is retained within portion 46 of joining member 42 and end 34 f side support member 28 is retained within portion 44 of joining member 42. When it is desired to disassemble the frame 14 for transport or'storage, it is a simple matter to remove the side support members'26, 28 from the base members l6, 18 by withdrawing the members from the respective joining members 42.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 2 the side support members 26, 28 have extending therebetween a plurality of support straps 50; In the embodiment shown, three such support straps are secured at opposite ends thereof to side support members 26, 28 and are secured such that a slight amount of slack is present in the straps 50. The support straps 50 can be of any suitable sturdy material such as nylon or other appropriate fabric. The straps 50 are secured to the support members 26, 28 by suitable grommets or other securing means indicated by the reference numeral 52.

When the support frame 14 is assembled as shown in solid line in FIG. 2, the disposition of the vertically oriented standards formed of portions 24, 34 and 22, 40 is such that the side support members 26, 28 lie slightly ofiset from the opposite end portions 60, 62 of base members 16, 18. Thus, the distance between side support members 26, 28 is less than the length of elongate portion 20 between limits 60, 62. The resiliency of the material from which frame 14 is formed is such that side support members 26, 28 may be forced away from each other as illustrated in dotted line, and returned to solid line position when the force is withdrawn.

In use of the support frame 14, the side support members 26, 28' are assemblied on the base members 16, 18 to assume the configuration illustrated in solid line in FIG. 2. The inflatable article of furniture next is placed to lie on the support straps 50 and the article is inflated partially while being properly positioned as is illustrated in FIG. 1. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, as the chair is inflated to assume a partially inflated condition (FIG. 5,) the side edge 54 of the chair abuts againstthe elongate support bar 30 of sidesupport member 26. The portions 22 and 40 of support frame 14 at this stage of inflation are disposed in their rest position at an angle approximately 17 from normal. As the chair 10 is further inflated to assume a fully inflated condition, the opposite side portions 54 assert a force against the elongate support bars 30 and 32 to change the orientation of the side support members 26, 28, forcing the same further apart as illustrated in dotted line FIG. 2. This condition also is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein the portions 22 and 40 of the support frame 14 have been moved to an angle of approximately 10 from normal. When the chair has been fully inflated as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the force of the side portions of the chair 10 against the side support members 26, 28 is retarded by the resiliency of the side support members which pinch the chair into a secure position. Thus, in fully inflated position, the chair 10 is securely wedged between the side support members 26, 28 of the support frame 14 to prevent the chair from slipping or sliding out of its secure position on the frame.

When in fully inflated condition on frame 14, chair 10 is elevated a sufficient distance above floor level to make use thereof comfortable. Further, the frame 14 aids in retarding undesirable movement of the furniture article. To enhance this latter feature, friction pads (not shown) may be attached to the undersurface of base members l6, 18. To disassemble the frame 14 from chair 10, the aforementioned steps of inflation are reversed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the support frame members can assume a configuration order than the tubular configuration ofthe preferred embodiment. Thus, there is illustrated in FIG. 6, a portion 34 of the side support member and a portion 24' of the base member wherein the crosssectional configuration is that of a square. Also, there is illustrated an alternate method of joining the base members to the side support members wherein the base member hasa reduced area portion 56 which is adapted to be positioned within the confines of the portion 34'. In this embodiment the joining member 42 is not needed. FIG. 8 illustrates a construction similar to FIG. 7 wherein the frame members have a' hexagonal cross-sectional configuration. In FIG. 9, the cross-sectional configuration is of triangular shape. It is to be understood that a wide variety of such cross-sectional configurations can be designed and adapted for use in the invention.

What it is desired to secure from Letters Patent is:

l. A platform for retaining an inflatable article of furniture above floor level comprising, a pair of resilient base members each having an elongate portion and an upstanding short portion at either end thereof, a pair of side support members each having a support bar with opposite ends disposed transverse to said support bar, said opposite ends being adapted for removable connection respectively to the short portions of opposite base members such that said side support members are disposed above and normal to said base members, and a plurality of support straps extending between said side support members, said side support members being movable between a first relaxed position and a second tensed position, whereby when said article of furniture is inflated in place upon said support straps, the inflated article will press against the side support members and assert a force thereagainst to move the same apart from said first position to said second position such that said side support members will resiliently engage opposite lower side surfaces of the inflated article to maintain the same in squeezed condition on said platform.

2. A platform as claimed in claim 1 further comprising connector means for joining together said opposite ends with said short portions, said means each having a first and second portion, said first portion being adapted to receive one of said opposite ends and said second portion being adapted to receive one of said short portions, each said opposite end and said second portion juxtaposed opposite sides of said means.

3. A platfonn as claimed in claim 1 in which the end of one of said pair of opposite ends and short portion is of reduced cross-sectional dimension to be received within the other of said pair of opposite ends and short portions.

4. A platform as claimed in claim 1 in which said support straps are flexible and slacked prior to inflation of said article.

5. A platform as claimed in claim 1 in which said short portions are disposed at an acute angle to said elongate portion at least prior to inflation of said article.

6. A platform as claimed in claim 2 in which there is a reduced dimension connecting portion between said first and second portions and said opposite end and said second portion are disposed on opposite sides of said connecting portion.

7. A platform as claimed in claim 1 in which said platform is fonned of tubular metal stock.

8. The combination of an inflatable article of furniture and a platform for retaining the article above floor level, said platform comprising, a pair of resilient base members each having an elongate portion and an upstanding short portion at either end thereof, a pair of side support members each having a support bar with opposite ends disposed transverse to said support bar, said opposite ends being adapted for removable connection respectively to the short portions of opposite base members such that said side support members are disposed above and normal to said base members, and a plurality of support straps extending between said side support members, an inflatable seating furniture article having a seating chamber to be supported on said straps between said side support members, said side support being movable between a first relaxed position and a second tensed position, whereby when said article of furniture is inflated in place upon said support straps, the seating chamber will press against the side support members and assert a force thereagainst to move the same apart from said first position to said second position such that said side support members will resiliently engage opposite lower side surfaces of the inflated article to maintain the same in squeezed condition on said platform.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 in which said sup port straps are slacked prior to inflation of said seating chamber and are unslacked when said seating chamber has been inflated.

110. The combination as claimed in claim 8 further comprising connector means for joining together said opposite ends with said short portions, said means each having a first and second portion, said first portion being adapted to receive one of said opposite ends and said second portion being adapted to 

1. A platform for retaining an inflatable article of furniture above floor level comprising, a pair of resilient base members each having an elongate portion and an upstanding short portion at either end thereof, a pair of side support members each having a support bar with opposite ends disposed transverse to said support bar, said opposite ends being adapted for removable connection respectively to the short portions of opposite base members such that said side support members are disposed above and normal to said base members, and a plurality of support straps extending between said side support members, said side support members being movable between a first relaxed position and a second tensed position, whereby when said article of furniture is inflated in place upon said support straps, the inflated article will press against the side support members and assert a force thereagainst to move the same apart from said first position to said second position such that said side support members will resiliently engage opposite lower side surfaces of the inflated article to maintain the same in squeezed condition on said platform.
 2. A platform as claimed in claim 1 further comprising connector means for joining together said opposite ends with said short portions, said means each having a first and second portion, said first portion being adapted to receive one of said opposite ends and said second portion being adapted to receive one of said short portions, each said opposite end and said second portion juxtaposed opposite sides of said means.
 3. A platform as claimed in claim 1 in which the end of one of said pair of opposite ends and short portion is of reduced cross-sectional dimension to be received within the other of said pair of opposite eNds and short portions.
 4. A platform as claimed in claim 1 in which said support straps are flexible and slacked prior to inflation of said article.
 5. A platform as claimed in claim 1 in which said short portions are disposed at an acute angle to said elongate portion at least prior to inflation of said article.
 6. A platform as claimed in claim 2 in which there is a reduced dimension connecting portion between said first and second portions and said opposite end and said second portion are disposed on opposite sides of said connecting portion.
 7. A platform as claimed in claim 1 in which said platform is formed of tubular metal stock.
 8. The combination of an inflatable article of furniture and a platform for retaining the article above floor level, said platform comprising, a pair of resilient base members each having an elongate portion and an upstanding short portion at either end thereof, a pair of side support members each having a support bar with opposite ends disposed transverse to said support bar, said opposite ends being adapted for removable connection respectively to the short portions of opposite base members such that said side support members are disposed above and normal to said base members, and a plurality of support straps extending between said side support members, an inflatable seating furniture article having a seating chamber to be supported on said straps between said side support members, said side support being movable between a first relaxed position and a second tensed position, whereby when said article of furniture is inflated in place upon said support straps, the seating chamber will press against the side support members and assert a force thereagainst to move the same apart from said first position to said second position such that said side support members will resiliently engage opposite lower side surfaces of the inflated article to maintain the same in squeezed condition on said platform.
 9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 in which said support straps are slacked prior to inflation of said seating chamber and are unslacked when said seating chamber has been inflated.
 10. The combination as claimed in claim 8 further comprising connector means for joining together said opposite ends with said short portions, said means each having a first and second portion, said first portion being adapted to receive one of said opposite ends and said second portion being adapted to receive one of said short portions, each said opposite end and said second portion juxtaposed opposite sides of said means.
 11. The combination as claimed in claim 8 in which the end of one of said pair of opposite ends and short portions is of reduced cross-sectional dimension to be received within the other of said pair of opposite ends and short portions.
 12. The combination as claimed in claim 8 in which said platform is formed of tubular metal stock. 